Improvement in safes



M C BOYER lmprovemelrgt in Safes.

Patentdmarch19,1872

UlvrTEn STATESI PATENT @Prion IMPROVEMENT IN SAFES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,784, dated March 19, 1872.

Specification describing an Improvement in Safes, invented by MICHAEL O. BOYER, of Norristown, county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania.

Improvei'nent 'in Safes.

the ravages of tire andthe attacks of burglars.

Figures 1 and 2 in the accompanying drawing are vertical sectionsillustratin g my invention- Figi showing the safe as it appears when lowered, and Fig. 2 the safe elevated.

In the oor of the room where the safe isrequired Il dig a pit, A, and line it with appropriate masonry or brick-work, a, and on the bottom of this pit rests an annular reservoir, the upper edge of which may terminate at or near the surface of the l'oor m. A constant supply of water is maintained in this reservoir through a pipe, D, and at the top of the reservoir is a vent-pipe, It. The reservoir B may be of a rectangular' shape, but I prefer to make it of an annular form, the safe E being in the present instance cylindrical. The top of the safe is provided with suitable appliances for receiving the ends of chains or other equivalent tackle connected to suitable hoisting apparatus, by means of which the safe can be elevated or lowered at pleasure. A heavy plate, G, of metal is arranged to slide in guides across the top of the reservoir, therebyinclosin g the safe when the latter is lowered, as in Fig. l, and supporting the safe-when the latter is elevated, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be evident that when the safe is lowered and covered by the plate Gr it is eii'ectually protected from injury by ire, owing to the surrounding reservoir of water. Even should the reservoir be heated by any burning mass which may fall upon it, the surrounding water would escape slowly in the formY of steam through the vent-pipe, and this steam would have a tendencyto extinguish the surrounding fire. There are three prominent sources of protection ofthe safe from the operations of burglars: First, they would find great difficulty in obtaining command ofthe hoisting mechanism, which may be situated in an upper room, and renderednseless for hoisting purposes during the night by the withdrawal of some indispensable part of the ma chinery; second, the plate' G, independently of its weight and solidity, may be suitably locked; and, third, even if the burglars gained access to the lowered safe, the space within which they had to operate would be too contracted to enable them to gain an entrance within any reasonable time. If desired, the reservoir B may be surrounded by a supply of water contained within the water-tight wall of the pit.4 It will be seen that by the use of the reservoir B, detachable from the vault, and adapted to receive the safe, the expense, time, and labor necessary to form a water-tight well or reservoir of masonry is avoided, while by the use of such reservoirs the ordinary safes may easily and economically, and without alteration, be rendered perfectly tire-proof.

I do not desire to restrict myself to any specie mechanismv for raising and lowering the safe, or to any positive shape of the vessel or pit; but

I claim as my invention- 1. The reservoir B, consisting of a detachable double casin g arranged withina pit adapted to receive a-sat'e, and supplied with water, as specified.

2. The combination of the said safe and its raising and lowering mechanism, with the water-reservoir B and sliding plate Gr, for closing the reservoir and supportingthe safe when y elevated from the reservoir, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

MICHAEL G. BOYER.

Witnesses:

WM. A. STEEL,

J oHN K.RU1 ERTUs. 

